Grasstrees is a 115ha Private Nature Reserve sitting on the northern slope of Bolivia Hill, approximately 30km south of Tenterfield and 60km north of Glen Innes on the Northern Tablelands of NSW. The property is characterised by massive granite outcrops and open eucalypt forest. The Reserve is managed under a Conservation Agreement in Perpetuity with the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust. A studio -style cottage provides quality accommodation for 2 people within the Reserve. A campsite (for RV, caravan or tent) can accommodate additional family or group members (up to 6 people in total). A visit to Grasstrees is for those with an interest in the complexities, challenges and delights of conserving the biodiversity of the great Aussie bush, and a passion for all things natural.
IMPORTANT: 4WD or AWD vehicle is required for access.
A stay in GPNR has something to offer all year round. A network of Mowed Walking Tracks has been created to make it easy for guests to wander and explore the property. Spring is all about flowering native plants - from dainty terrestrial orchids to majestic New England stringybarks. It is also bird nesting season: fairy wrens, finches, honeyeaters and willie wagtails are regular nesters within the house and vegetable gardens. Our cool summer evenings are just perfect for relaxing on your private verandah. Guests can expect the company of our resident macropods who come out to feed and drink at dusk, within metres of The Gatehouse. Summer can also bring storms , often followed by complete rainbows and then a fantastic lightning show on the horizon as the storm travels to the coast.
Autumn could well be our best season with calm, warm days and cooler nights.
From March to May is just about perfect for bush-walking and bird-watching. Winter days can be cold (sometimes it snows) but clear skies bring brilliant sunny days and starry night skies. In late August, the wattles adorn the hills with layers of sunny yellow telling us that spring is not far away.
Over 200 plant species and 90 bird species have been recorded in GPNR. But timing is everything, so please talk to us about the best weeks of the year for you to observe and enjoy the inhabitants of our reserve. For shutterbugs, the local cohort of marsupials, monotremes, reptiles, amphibians and birds provide many opportunities for capturing that special moment. Some species are secretive, others not; but it is always delightful to watch them go about their daily business and completely ignore us mere humans.
Local historians tell us that one of the many hideouts used by the bushranger known as Thunderbolt is located on our property. A walk to 'The Cave' can take you back in time to the days of Cobb and Co.Coaches. The hideout sits within a massive granite outcrop and comes complete with an outlaw's escape passage through a giant boulder.
The Gatehouse is a purpose-built, self-contained, studio-style cottage. Features include a wood-fired stove and 9m x 3m verandah with breathtaking 180° views. Two telecommunications towers provide excellent 4G reception. For families/groups of up to 6 people, our campsite sits within the same fenced yard as The Gatehouse. A firepit adjoins the campsite. Please talk to us about your family /group requirements.